Designing interventions to prevent HIV-1 infection by promoting use of condoms and spermicides among intravenous drug abusers and their sexual partners.

This paper summarizes the results of a 2-day workshop to identify the most effective educational strategies to promote use of condoms and spermicides for preventing heterosexual transmission of HIV-1 virus from intravenous drug abusers (IVDA) to their steady, nonintravenous drug abusing (NIVDA) sexual partners. Representatives from health departments, drug abuse treatment centers, academic institutions, service organizations, and the community discussed issues relating to population characteristics, educational strategies and recruitment techniques. A consensus document that identifies the most effective recruitment and intervention strategies was developed. Recruitment issues include locations, recruitment targets, anticipated difficulties, and ethical considerations. The majority of workshop participants agreed that an intervention should target the couple (both IVDA and NIVDA). Intervention concerns encompass obtaining trust, maintaining participation, and identifying guidelines to maximize program impact.